Join Us at our Family-Friendly Rally for Congestion Pricing
Calling all parents, caregivers, grandparents, babysitters, and little ones! Governor Hochul’s congestion pricing delay is making it tough to get around New York City. From inaccessible subways to stalled elevator projects to gridlocked streets filled with traffic and noise, our city desperately needs change. But with congestion pricing on hold, it’s our families who are paying the price.
Delaying congestion pricing means more stuck buses, more traffic, and fewer improvements to our subway system, including essential projects like elevator installations that would make public transit more accessible for parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities. This isn’t just about getting from point A to point B — it’s about creating a better, safer city for all of us, especially the youngest among us.
We need your voices to make sure that our city doesn’t turn its back on families.
Join us, Kids over Cars, Riders Alliance, Climate Families NYC, and UP-STAND for a family-friendly rally and march this Saturday, September 14 at 10 a.m. Together, we’ll gather at Hoyt and Schermerhorn Streets — outside one of the 23 subway stations affected by canceled elevator projects — and march to Sixteen Sycamores Playground.
Bring the whole family! Strollers, cargo bikes, scooters, and all are welcome. We will end our march at the playground with fun activities for the little ones, creating a space for kids and families to enjoy while we rally for a better future.
Three Things to Know
Open Streets and Bike Boulevards are vital parts of our neighborhoods. These programs offer more than public space — they are a vital resource for our communities, supporting local businesses, fostering happiness, and providing a safe and welcoming environment for thousands of New Yorkers every week. The numbers speak for themselves: a 2022 DOT study showed a 20% surge in sales for businesses along Vanderbilt Avenue since the Open Streets program began. Over 4,500 people have already signed the petition supporting streets for people in Prospect Heights — if you haven’t yet, now’s the time to add your name. Our leaders need to expand, not cut back, Open Streets.
We rallied with elected leaders and Families for Safe Streets to demand that Mayor Adams take action to protect our children from traffic violence. Fourteen children have been killed by traffic violence this year, putting New York City on track for its second-deadliest year since Vision Zero began. As over a million students return to school, no child should have to navigate streets that put their lives at risk – and Mayor Adams holds the key to solving this crisis. Tools like Sammy’s Law, which allows the city to set safer speed limits, and the NYC Streets Plan, which mandates safer street designs, provide the mayor with a clear path to transforming our streets. The solution begins with redesigning streets to prioritize safety, ensuring that all New Yorkers, from the youngest to the oldest, can move through our city without fear.
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
The long-awaited protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue is finally happening in the coming weeks, according to Streetsblog. This project, years in the making, wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of the Good Co. Bike Club, Council Member Chi Ossé, over 40 local businesses, and thousands of supportive neighbors.
A ferry service to Coney Island could soon become a reality if the City Council proceeds with Council Member Brannan's proposed bill to study its feasibility, according to reports from The Brooklyn Paper.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed new rules to reduce pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries, reports Streetsblog. The new standard would require passenger vehicles to be designed to lower the risk of serious or fatal injuries in collisions with both children and adults!
Two Things to Do
Sign our petition for a dedicated bus lane on 96 Street. New York City's buses are already the slowest in the nation, and on 96th Street, they’re even slower. The M96 averages just 6.5 mph — 20% slower than the citywide average. Bus riders on 96th Street deserve a faster commute with a dedicated bus lane stretching from West End Avenue to First Avenue. The Upper East and West Sides have few dedicated bus lanes, leaving parents, workers, low-income New Yorkers, and our aging neighbors behind. This spring, DOT proposed bus lanes along 96th Street between First and West End Avenues. Sign our petition and tell the mayor and your council member that we need a bus lane on 96th Street now.
Join us for the second installment of our Bronx walking tour. In collaboration with Bronx Health Reach and other community partners, we'll be exploring ways to make our communities more walkable, bikeable, and accessible for everyone using them. Meet us on Saturday, September 21, at 11 a.m. where we left off last time, at Kingsbridge. Don’t forget to RSVP today! Let’s work towards making the Bronx's streets safer, one step at a time.
One Action to Take Now
Tell Governor Hochul: stop stalling congestion pricing. New York City is at a tipping point, and Governor Hochul's decision to delay congestion pricing harms New Yorkers — especially our families and children. What kind of future are we leaving for them? Our streets remain clogged with traffic, while the anticipated revenue from congestion pricing, which could fund vital subway and bus upgrades, is in jeopardy. Take a moment today to tell Governor Kathy Hochul you support congestion pricing.
